A jelly, made out of donated umbilical cords might stimulate the growth of cushioning cartilage. The Jelly, called Wharton’s jelly, will be injected into the knees of patients of osteoarthritis. Testing has been done on animals and has the potential of reversing damage to the joints. A trial will be conducted with 12 patients at first. Osteoarthritis is common in millions of people, and is the wear and tear of joints as you age, are overweight, have a family history and sports injuries. Studies are being conducted in both the United States and the UK.
Key Takeaways:
- Tests have shown that Wharton’s jelly may be able to reverse damage done to the joints in osteoarthritis patients.
- The current treatment for damaged joints is painkillers that work as anti inflammatories but they can damage the stomach with long term use.
- Scientists have also been trying to figure out if stem cells have the ability to reverse joint damage but more research needs to be done.
“Around nine million people in the UK have osteoarthritis, where cartilage breaks down, meaning bones rub together, causing inflammation and pain.”
